# Can compensatory afforestation really replace a forest?

> Mumbai's tree planting drives often fail to replace lost forests, with survival rates as low as 50%.
- Title: Can compensatory afforestation really replace a forest? · mint
- Summary: Mumbai's tree planting drives often fail to replace lost forests, with survival rates as low as 50%. Compensatory afforestation in Mumbai has low survival…
- Keywords: mumbai, compensatory afforestation, mumbai metro, brihanmumbai municipal corporation, vanashakti, mangroves, ecological restoration, mumbai port authority, news, india, compensatory, afforestation
- Source: mint — https://livemint.com/mint-lounge/ideas/tree-plantation-environment-compensatory-afforestation-conservation-mumbai-metro-11792077388669.html
- Author: Tarang Mohnot
- Published: 2026-10-16T02:30:42+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mumbai, compensatory afforestation, mumbai metro, brihanmumbai municipal corporation, vanashakti, mangroves, ecological restoration, mumbai port authority, news, india
## Mumbai's tree planting drives
Mumbai's municipal corporations and government agencies regularly announce tree planting drives with ambitious targets.
## Supreme Court observation
The Supreme Court observed that only about half of the more than 20,000 trees planted for the Mumbai Metro survived.
## Compensatory afforestation framework
India's compensatory afforestation framework requires planting more trees to offset those felled for infrastructure projects.
## Conservationist critique
Vanashakti founder Stalin Dayanand says compensatory afforestation is a namesake process that takes away ecological benefits.
## Ecological restoration challenges
Native seeds must be sourced, germinated, and raised for years before saplings reach maturity.
## Mumbai Metro survival issue
Poor soil quality, water scarcity, and inadequate maintenance caused low survival rates for Mumbai Metro trees.
## Bhayandar mangrove problem
Mangroves planted for the Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road showed high mortality due to incorrect species and poor fencing.
## Land degradation concerns
Authorities claim degraded land is available for plantations, but land degradation itself is often unaddressed.
## Ecological restoration complexity
Restoring ecosystems requires addressing root causes like invasive species, water flows, and fire risks before planting trees.
## Miyawaki plantations
Japanese-style Miyawaki plantations grow dense forests quickly but may not support biodiversity in water-scarce areas.
## Political challenges
Protecting existing forests faces political resistance and requires sustained public investment.
## What happens next
Compensatory afforestation fails to replace lost forests due to ecological complexity and political barriers.
## Key takeaway

Compensatory afforestation in Mumbai has low survival rates due to poor soil, water scarcity, and inadequate maintenance.